Hatbox



Patented Apr. 1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE ns'rsox Emile G. Speeger', Elmhurst, Long Island, N. Y. Application November 20, 1937, Serial No. 175,610

4 Claims.

My invention relates to folding hatboxes and more particularly to triangularly shaped boxes. which I have discovered are especially suitable for storing and transporting hats.

Triangularly shaped boxes are, of course, known in the prior art. Such a box is illustrated in Patent No. 218,479 issued to C. E. Bolchini. A box of this type to be of value commercially must not be diflicult to assemble into rigid form from the flat folded or collapsed position. Accordingly, a primary object of my invention is to provide a folding hatbox which may be quickly assembled into set-up position with a minimum amount of manipulation and 7 manual effort.

Many boxes have separate top, side and bottom sections, and handle, which require individual attachment, thus adding to the time required to assemble the sections into.a single unit. A further object, therefore, of my inven-.

tion, is to provide a collapsible box in which all parts are properly positioned with respect to one another and require but a single operation to set up the parts, withperhaps a single fastening means to maintain the parts in the set-up position.

Various closing meansare provided with folded and set-up boxes, usually one or more pieces of ribbon or twine which are tied together'or around a clip to secure the cover to the box, especially where the handle or other supporting means is attached to the cover. Such strings are lost, pulled out or torn, leaving an inoperative container. An additional object, therefore, is to provide a supporting means directly attached to the box without the necessity of providing additional closing means for the lid, or for keeping the box closed while being carried.

Other objects are to provide a box of the above suggested character having a satisfactory reinforcement in the set-up position to prevent collapse; which is made from cardboard in an economical manner; which eliminates strings of any sort; which may be folded flat when not in use with resultant saving in space; which has a comfortable and rigid handle for ease in transportation; which may be printed with the desired copy before assembly and assembled without loss of copy visibility or disiiguration thereto; which is attractive in appearance; and which will store a hat with minimum space requiro ments, and in an efficient manner.

These and other objects are attained and the novel results accomplished, as will be. apparent, in the device described and claimed in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the box and handle attached thereto.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are plan views of the individual top, side and bottom sections, respectively.

Figs. 5 and 6 are front and side views of the cardboard handle employed.

Fig. 7 illustrates the handle inserted in the flattened opened top of the box.

Figs. 8 and 9 are front and sectional views of the hook fastening means attached to the bottom section for supporting the same to the sid wall.

Figs. 10 and 11 are front and sectional views of the eyelet in the/side wall through which the hook fastener is inserted.

Fig. 12 is a view illustrating the complete box in collapsed position.

Fig. 13 is a special reinforcing insert'which may be used when hats are being shipped from factory to store.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing my special insert and enclosed hat positioned in-the box.

Fig. 15 is a partial view of a modified form 0 bottom section.

Fig. 16 is a modified form of side section.

Fig. 17 is a partial sectional view of the assembled modified bottom and side sections.

In' Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing, the box l0, comprises the top section II, the-side walls l2 and the bottom i3.

The top section consists of a triangular shaped cut-out 14 having rectangular flaps ll, l8 and i1, and provided with a slot I8, for insertion of a handle I! along one side as shown in Fig. '7'. The handle is is preferably cut from a rigid piece of cardboard, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, with a smooth curved cut-out position 2! for insertion of the hand. The shoulder sections 2| are greater in length than the slot l8, thus preventing the handle i'rom passing therethrough.

The side section l2, comprises back wall 22, and front walls 23 and 24. A fold line 25 divides wall 23 into sections 26 and 21, and permits the wall to fold into collapsing position as shown in Fig. 12.

The closing flap 28 is preferably gummed to the free longitudinal edge of front wall 2|, and gives the side section l2, a prismatic appearance, about folding lines 29, 30 and 3l, as shown in Fig. 1.

The rear flap ll of top H, is gummed or otherwise suitably fastened to the upper edge of back wall 22 of side section l2, and the rectangular-shoulder section 2| of the basa ts u u similarly glued to the flap i1 and wall 22, reinforcing the wall and top section as well as strengthening the handle.

The bottom section it, comprises the bottom wall 8|, and flaps l6, 3'! and SI, the latter oi which is gummed or otherwise attached to the lower edge of back wall 22 oi side section II. The edges 3| and It are cut at right-angles to the fold lines I and I so that in set-up position they abut and reinforce each other as well asside walls 23 and 24, as shown in Fig: l.

A hook fastener 44, with a tongue ll, and fastening section ll, is riveted as at 41. to the flap It, as shown in Fig. 4.

An eye section ll is riveted as at 4|, to front 'wall 23.

When the bottom section is set up into position, the hook 45 is inserted into eye ll, as shown in Fig. 1, and substantially supports the bottom section ll, to the front wall.

The flaps l5 and ll of the top section II are inserted within the side walls, as shown in Fig. l, the right-angle sections IIA and "A of flaps II and i8, engaging the fold lines and aid in keeping rigid the set-up box.

In the folded or collapsed position the bottom section II is flattened within the side section if,

the side walls 23, collapsing about fold 2|, and the top section I I, flattened outwardly.

In set-up position, the hand is inserted from the top'opening and bottom section pushed downwardly until the side walls are in position. The hook, is inserted into the eye and bent into position. The object is placed therein, and the top 35 flaps inserted. I'he handle is in proper position for gripping, and inasmuch as the weight is carried almost entirely by the back wall 22, the flaps ll and I will not open even though they are not locked or otherwise fastened.

- Where a number of boxes are placed one upon the other for storing hats, the reinforcing member ll, shown in Fig. 13 may be inserted. The member is similarly of cardboard and has a fold line Ii, dividing the member into two sections, each containing an elliptical perforation 2, large enough to allow the crown of a hat to slip through and retain the brim. The crown may be inserted from the inside through either of the two periorations and inserted with member 50 into the triangular opening of the box as shown in Fig. 14. A wide variety of shapes of member II are possible for reinforcing the side walls and permit the hat to be stored therein without crushing.

It will be seen from the foregoing construction that I have provided a novel type of hatbox that is extremely simple in construction, easy to set up, with but a single closing means for the entire device. adapted to be carried by a convenient sup-- porting means.

Furthermore, the box is extremely decorative and possesses a distinctive and novel appearance. It is furthermore ideally adapted to carry a hat and may be reinforced so that one box may be stored upon the other without loss of space, occurring with the round two of hatbox. My construction permits collapsing the box without separating any of its compound parts so that a considerable quantity may be stored in a small space. ready for use without the necessity of previous instructions.

The top and bottom sections, while illustrated asbeing glued by means of an attaching flap to It may be opened in an instant 70 single piece. The collapsing fold 25 may occur in either of the two front sides 28 or 24 and any with hope It, It and It, the latter for glueing as previously described. Additional flaps l5 and 66 extend from flaps 62 and 83. Fold lines 61, i8 and II connect flaps 84, I and 86 to bottom section II, respectively. Fold lines 10 and Ii connect flaps bl to O2. and 00 to 63, respectively. The side section ll of the modified form comprises side walls 8|, .2 and U3 similar to II, 22 and 23, respectively of Fig. 3.

Flaps I, II and I6, separated by fold lines II, II, II, II and ii are attached to the side sections as illustrated. When the side sections are folded to form a triangularly shaped box, flap I4 is summed to the free edge of side wall 83. Flaps II and It, are thereafter folded upwardly and inwardly. Flap 84 of the bottom section 60 is summed to the bottom of the back wall as indicated hereinbeiore.

The double flaps of bottom section 60 are upwardly folded with flaps 68 and 86 reversed and inserted into pockets formed by flaps 86 and 86 of the side walls. A partial section view of the interlocking eifect is shown in Fig. 17.

By the foregoing description, it is apparent that I have devised a triangularly shaped hatbox which may be completely closed and carried about by'means of a handle without the need of any strings, hooks or other locking means. I have provided a hatbox made solely of cardboard and if necessary, made entirely of one piece with the exception of the handle.

I have thus described my invention, but I desireit understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore. I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of walls, the bottom section comprising a triangular shaped portion having a plurality of flaps attached thereto, and adapted to be inserted completely within the side section, and means for attaching one of said flaps to one of the walls of said side section for supporting the bottom section in position. v

2. A prism-shaped box comprising top, side and bottom' sections, 'said top and bottom sections each hinged to one of the side walls along oppo- V the side section. obviously may be formed as a 715 site edges thereof, the unhinged side walls each having a flap at their end adjacent the bottom section, interlocking with flaps attached to the unhinged sides of the bottom section.

3. A prism-shaped box comprising top, side and bottom sections, said top and bottom sections hinged to the side section along one of the walls forming a part of said side section; a fold line longitudinally extending in one of the remaining side walls for permitting the side and top and bottom sections to be collapsed into a substantially flat unit, and an insert composed of a hinged section for insertion into said side section for reinforcement thereof.

1f) the bottom section to the side walls.

EMILE G. SPEEGER. 

